Music supporting case



wt 17,, 1935. M. wfcowEN '4 fimj MUSIC SUPPORTING CASE Filed April 22, 1935 Patented Sept. 17, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 9 Claims.

This invention relates to cases and has particular reference to devices adapted to support and hold sheets of music, or the like, in upright reading position.

One object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described having improved means for safely containing articles such as music sheets, and for reliably supporting the articles in display or reading position when the device is opened upright.

Another object of the invention is to furnish a relatively conventional case, for the purpose set forth, and which shall be simple in construction, which shall have few and simple parts, and which shall be durable, reliable, convenient and elficient to a high degree in use.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the specification proceeds.

With the aforesaid objects in View, the invention consists in the novel combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described in their preferred embodiments, pointed out in the subjoined claims, and illustrated in the annexed drawing, wherein like parts are designated by the same reference characters throughout the several views.

In the drawing: 7

Figure l is an isometric view in closed position showing a device embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a view in end elevation thereof in partially open position.

Fig. 3 is a view in front elevation of the device in full open position and resting on an end to support articles in display or reading relation.

Figs. 4 and 5 are views in vertical section taken respectively on lines 4-4 and 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a view in horizontal section taken on line 6--6 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a view in end elevation, corresponding to Fig. 3, but showing the device as mounted on an easel.

The advantages of the invention as here outlined are best realized when all of its features and instrumentalities are combined in one and the same structure, but, useful devices may be produced embodying less than the whole.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, that the same may be incorporated in several different constructions. The accompanying drawing, therefore, is submitted merely as ShOWing the preferred exemplification of the invention.

Generally described, this invention is intended primarily for traveling musicians, who may use a large number of cases adapted to be removably housed in a trunk, and each case containing a considerable quantity of music sheets. Heretofore it has been necessary for the musician to remove the music sheets from the case and place the same upon the conventional easel. The sheets of music could not be used directly in the case itself, because they could not be reliably held therein, especially because of the considerable quantity of the music sheets, and further be- 1 cause it is necessary to be able to conveniently shift the music sheets one above the other so that any required music sheet can be read by the player. I have perceived the advantage of so utilizing the case, and of providing means to 1 overcome the difficulties which I have observed. Hence I provide a case having a plurality of case sections movably or swingably interconnected and adapted to rest on an end with the interconnection upright, and the case sections hav ing supports or shelves at the said end, projecting beyond the sections or the marginal walls thereof, for supporting a large quantity of sheet music in conjunction with holding means carried by the sections, and the different shelves adapted to interfit as by extending into the opposed sections when the case is closed, the arrangement affording a compact combined music containing and display case having a substantial free volume for receiving a large quantity of sheet music and for permitting convenient handling thereof and adapted to be readily illuminated.

Referring in detail to the drawing, l0 denotes a device embodying the invention. The same may be in the nature of a transporting unit for containing and displaying music at will. Said device may comprise a case having a plurality of case sections ll, l2, having side walls l3, l4 respectively, and suitable marginal walls. The marginal wall for the section I I may include a top portion Na, 2. bottom portion I5, and an end portion l6, which may be continuous with each other. The section l2 may include corresponding top and bottom marginal wall portions ll, [8, and an end wall portion l9 likewise continuous with each 45 other. The inner edges of the sections H and I2 are free of marginal wall portions and are interconnected by a wall 20 at hinge lines 2|, by fold or actual hinge members. The arrangement is such that when the case is closed as in Fig. 1, the 50 edges 22 of the wall portions Isa, l5, l1, l8 abut the hinge wall 2B in closure engagement, and the marginal walls of the different case sections aline and abut each other to afford a case which is continuously closed and of uniform, even external form. If desired, the wall portion I6 may be relatively thickened and may have a longitudinal lip 23 to constitute a seat underlying the corresponding edge of the wall portion I9. A suitable handle and locking means, not shown, may be provided so that the case In may be carried in the manner of a valise.

The case sections II and I2 may be provided with sheet music supporting means which may include holding means such as one or more longitudinal spaced straps 24 for the individual case sections. These straps may be of adjustable or elastic character and may be afiixed to the side walls I3, I4 in any suitable manner, at the top and bottom of each case section.

Due to the considerable quantity of sheet music carried in a case by an itinerant musician, the straps are obviously insufficient in themselves to hold the sheet music reliably and yet conveniently for rapid interchange of music while the musician is performing. Since the cost of a case such as I0 must not be considerable, complicated holding devices may not be employed.

Hence I have provided platforms or shelves 25, 26 for the different case sections II, I2. These shelves extend to a substantial degree outward beyond the marginal walls and substantially up to the side walls I3, I4 of their opposed case sections in the closed position of the device. These shelves are further secured to their respective sections near or at the lower ends thereof to afford a large unobstructed space or volume in the case above the same for the reception of small and of very large sheets of music. The shelf 25 may be spaced above the wall portion I5 and may be rigidly secured to the side wall I3. The shelf 26 may be directly aflixed to the wall portion I8 in overlying relation thereto and in such manner as to constitute a lip or reduced flange for the wall portion I8.

In the closed position of the case, the shelf 26 interfits with the shelf 25 or is received in the case section I I, as by entering between the shelf 25 and the Wall portion I5. Since the shelf 26 is directly secured over a large area to the wall portion I8, said shelf is strongly reenforced, and affords a degree of support to the shelf 25 in the closed position of the case, so that if the latter is jarred or turned in different positions in course of ordinary transportation, the shelf 25 will not become bent or broken by the considerable weight of the sheet music.

The arrangement above described provides that the shelves extend horizontally in the open position of the device for normal use as shown in Fig. 3. The shelves, while slightly offset in the vertical direction, lie practically in a common plane as shown.

The manner of using the device I0 will now be described. The case II] contains a large quantity of sheet music, parts of which are distributed to the different sections and secured under the straps 24, so as to lie against the walls I3, I4. The case, upon being opened, may be placed upright on end on a conventional easel 21, in a position such as that of Fig. 3, with the walls I3, I4 inclining against the back 28 of the easel, and the wall portions I5, I8 resting on the bottom ledge or flange 29 of the easel. The sheets of music 30 may bulge forward along the shelves 25, 26, the straps yielding accordingly. In this way the sheets are loosely retained to be readily interchanged and a different sheet exposed.

Since the marginal walls are relatively narrow, the transmission of light to the music sheets is not obstructed. Further, a light fixture may be disposed centrally between the ends 22 of the top wall portions I3a, II, which afford a cut out for that purpose.

To close the case, the sections I I, I2 may merely be swung toward each other, or the device If) may be laid down flat to even up the music sheets, and then closed. In any event, the shelves or flanges 25, 26 aid in closing the case without permitting parts of the music sheets to project.

If desired, a divider, such as 3| may be hingedly connected at 32 to the wall I4 so as to be swingable into upward generally horizontal supporting position as shown in Fig. '7 or into downward inoperative position alongside of the wall I4 as shown in Figs. 3, 5 and 6. In the operative position, the divider 3I may rest on the batch of sheet music 30 which maintains it against downward swinging, so that the divider is adapted to support thereon a second batch 30a of sheet music. The straps 24 may in each case extend freely over the divider.

It will be appreciated that various changes and modifications may be made in the device as shown in the drawing, and that the same is submitted in an illustrative and not in a limiting sense, the scope of the invention being defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A music supporting case adapted to support sheets of music in an upright reading position, including a plurality of case sections movable toward and away from each other to open and close the case, each section comprising a side wall and marginal walls, and said sections having shelves at one end thereof, each of said shelves projecting to a substantial extent beyond the marginal wall of the section, and the shelf of each section extending into the companion section substantially to the side wall of the companion section in the closed position of the case, whereby sheets of music can be retained in the case and can be displayed in resting relation on said shelves in the upright open position of the case.

2. A case adapted to hold sheets of music in upright display position, including a plurality of sections movable toward and away from each other to close and open the case, said sections having marginal walls and individual shelves at a lower end thereof extending outward beyond r the marginal walls, said shelves being offset from each other to interfit in housed relation in the closed position of the case, said shelves extending generally horizontally in the open upright position of the case, and the upper end of said sections being unobstructed except for said marginal wall, whereby light can be projected downward upon sheets of music supported on the shelves in the individual sections.

3. A case adapted to hold sheets of music in upright display position, including a plurality of sections movable toward and away from each other to close and open the case, said sections having marginal walls and individual shelves at a lower end thereof extending outward beyond the marginal walls, said shelves being offset from each other to interfit in closed position of the case, and means carried by said sections for holding sheets of music upright to rest upon said shelves.

4.'A case adapted to hold sheets of music in upright display position, including a plurality of sections movable toward and away from each other to close and open the case, said sections having marginal walls and individual shelves at a lower end thereof extending outward beyond the marginal walls, said shelves being offset from each other to project into the companion sections, said shelves extending generally horizontally in the open upright position of the case, means carried by said sections for holding sheets of music upright and so as to rest on said shelves, and the upper end of said sections being unobstructed except for said marginal wall.

5. A case adapted to hold sheets of music in upright reading position, including a plurality of case sections having side Walls hingedly interconnected along a line intermediate of said sections, said sections having marginal walls, and adapted to be positioned upright on one end with the hinge connection upright, said sections each having a shelf adjacent to the lower end, each of said shelves extending outward to a substantial degree and substantially to the facing side wall of the companion section in the closed position of the sections, said shelves being offset relatively to each other in the upright direction and adapted to interfit with each other so as to be received in the sections in the said closed position, said sections having flexible straps extending along the side walls for holding sheet music thereagainst and so as to rest on said shelves, and the case sections being otherwise unobstructed above the said shelves.

6. A case having a plurality of case sections movable toward and away from each other and having marginal walls adapted to engage each other edgewise in the closed position of the case, one section having a shelf reenforcingly connected to a marginal wall at one end of the section, said shelf being adapted to be received in the other section, said other section having a shelf spaced above the corresponding end marginal wall with the upper shelf resting on the lower shelf in the closed position of the case, the shelf of each section extending substantially to the side wall of the companion section.

'7. A case having a. plurality of case sections movable toward and away from each other and having marginal walls adapted to engage each other edgewise in the closed position of the case, each section having a shelf at one end extending beyond the marginal wall of the section, said shelves extending substantially to the side walls of the sections opposed thereto in the closed position of the case, said shelves being so offset from each other in the upright direction so that one. 5

into closed position to lie along a plane with the hinge wall, said sections having side walls provided with marginal walls extending therealong and terminating at the hinge lines, said sections having means at an end thereof comprising shelves extending transversely of the hinge connections and terminating thereat, said shelves being offset in the upright direction so as to interfit in the closed position of the case, each shelf extending substantially to the side wall of the opposed case section, means on the latter for holding sheets upright to rest on the shelves, the marginal walls being substantially free and unobstructed except for said shelves, and. the region intermediate of the ends of the marginal walls at the hinge lines affording an opening for projecting light downward upon the said sheets.

9. A case having a plurality of case sections hingedly interconnected, a strap extending along and connected at its ends to one case section adjacent to the upper and lower ends thereof, said strap lying in an upright direction and being generally parallel to the hinge line, and a divider hingedly connected to said case section and extending in a generally horizontal direction so as to be swingable about its hinge line into and out of operative position, said divider, in the operative positions thereof, lying along a plane substantially at right angles to the plane of said case section, said strap extending freely over the divider, the latter being adapted to be supported on a batch of sheet music disposed upright in the lower part of the case section and being adapted to support a second batch of sheet music in the upper part of the case section, and said strap cooperating with said divider to retain the batches of music in relation to the divider.

MORTIMER WESLEY COWEN. 

